Eyedropper bottle holder

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a device for holding an ophthalmic bottle of drops and instilling them in a patient&#39;s eye. The device rests on the boney lower orbital ridge for stability and correct delivery.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 16/546,589 filed on Aug. 21, 2019, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No.15/151,579 filed on May 11, 2016 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,426,660 issued onOct. 1, 2019, and which are incorporated herein in their entirety byreference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent filesor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bottle holder. In particular, itrelates to a device for holding an eyedropper bottle and positioning itfor use.

Description of Related Art

The administration of a drop to the eye requires the steadying of thedropper's tip above the eye to get the drop in the eye, but not so closethat the tip touches the eye accidentally. It is also desirable to havethe drop land roughly in the center of the eye. In instilling eye drops,one hand holds the dropper while the other hand holds the eye open.

The standard eyedropper or squeeze bottle for instilling eye drops issmall, easy to operate, and inexpensive to make. However, there is greatdifficulty in terms of using it to then instill the drop properlywithout touching the eye or eyelid, or otherwise one ends up making amess. This is especially true if one is new to using eye drops or doesnot have a steady hand. There are both disposable devices and reusabledevices known in the art for aiding in the administration of eye drops,such as eyedroppers that rest on the nose (which must be adjustable tofit different face spacings), but all suffer from difficulties in use,accuracy issues, and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery that administration ofeye drops is enhanced greatly by mounting the eyedropper bottle on adevice which rests on the boney lower orbital ridge and, as such, adevice is designed to use the orbital ridge as a support for suchadministration.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a device for holding a singleuse or multiuse eyedropper bottle for administering ophthalmic dropsfrom a dispensing tip of the eyedropper bottle to a user's eye, thedevice having a top and a bottom side comprising:

-   -   a) a rigid base portion;    -   b) a bridge attached to one end of the base portion, adapted for        resting the device on the orbital ridge below the user's eye        such that drops can be directly instilled to the eye of the        user;    -   c) a bottle stop on the top side of the device adapted to        position the eyedropper bottle such that the dispensing tip is        positioned with the dispensing tip in spaced relationship and        aligned beyond the edge of the bridge and above the user's eye        when the device bridge is positioned on the orbital ridge below        the user's eye wherein the bridge and bottle stop are designed        together to instill drops directly in the eye without the bottle        tip touching the eye; and    -   d) wherein a bottom side of the device is adapted to position        one or more fingers, such that upon placing the one or more        fingers on the adapted portion, the bottle can be squeezed        between the fingers in the adapted position and another finger        on a top side of the device, or two fingers on the opposite hand        can squeeze the bottle to dispense the contents of the bottle.

In another embodiment, there is a method of administering eye drops froman eyedropper bottle with a dispensing tip designed to instill eye dropscomprising:

-   -   a) selecting a device, the device having a top of a base portion        for holding the eyedropper bottle comprising:        -   i. the rigid base portion;        -   ii. a bridge attached to one end of the base portion,            adapted for resting the device on the orbital ridge below            the user's eye such that drops can be directly instilled to            the eye of the user;        -   iii. a bottle stop on the top side of the device adapted to            position the eyedropper bottle such that the dispensing tip            is positioned with the dispensing tip in spaced relationship            and aligned beyond the edge of the bridge and above the            user's eye when the device bridge is positioned on the            orbital ridge below the user's eye wherein the bridge and            bottle stop are designed together to instill drops directly            into the eye without the bottle tip touching the eye; and        -   iv. wherein a bottom side of the device is adapted to            position one or more fingers, such that upon placing the one            or more fingers on the adapted portion, the bottle can be            squeezed between the fingers in the adapted position and            another finger on a top side of the device, or two fingers            on the opposite hand can squeeze the bottle to dispense the            contents of the bottle; and    -   b) resting the bridge of the device on the orbital ridge of the        user;    -   c) the user tilting their head back; and    -   d) squeezing the eye dropper bottle such that the drops are        administered directly into the user's eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention with afinger hold.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention with abottle mounted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention inuse.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the V-shaped bottle stop portionand a flat bottom with a rectangular shape of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described indetail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detaileddescription defines the meaning of the terms used herein andspecifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the artto practice the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as morethan one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or asmore than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to onlyclaiming the present invention with such comprising language. Anyinvention using the term comprising could be separated into one or moreclaims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is sointended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments without limitation.

The term “or”, as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any ofthe following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustratingcertain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not tobe considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding apresent participle of an operation indicates a desired function forwhich there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods,devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that oneskilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in viewof the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended tobe limiting.

As used herein, the term “eye dropper bottle” refers to a bottle, vial,or container holding an ophthalmic solution to be applied to a user'seye.

As used herein, the term “device for holding a single use or multiuseeyedropper bottle” refers to a device for administration of anophthalmic solution, adapted to position and aide in keeping steady abottle of ophthalmic solution, for instilling one or more drops into theuser's eye. It comprises adaptation to hold the dispensing tip of thebottle over the eye, and adaptation to hold the device steady byproviding a bridge which rests on the lower orbital ridge of the eye towhich drops are being instilled. The bottle can be squeezed by applyingpressure on one side of the bottle, against the base of the device, orjust squeezing the bottle between the fingers.

As used herein, the term “administering ophthalmic drops” refers toinstilling one or more drops of an ophthalmic solution into the eye of auser from a single use or multiuse eyedropper bottle.

As used herein, the term “user” and “user's eye” refers to a humanpatient to which it is necessary to instill one or more drops into oneor more eyes from a multiuse eyedropper bottle, either applied by thepatient or a third party.

As used herein, the term “rigid base” refers to a stiff material, suchas a stiff plastic, metal, or the like, of a generally rectangular oroval shape or the like adapted to receive an ophthalmic bottle on itstop side and, optionally, the bottom side being adapted to receive afinger of the user. It also has a bridge portion on one end and,optionally, the other end is curved toward the bottom side. In oneembodiment, the width is about 1 to 3 inches and the length about 3 to 5inches.

As used herein, the term “bridge” refers to one end of the base portionadapted to fit on the orbital ridge of a user. Accordingly, it does notneed to be wider than an inch or two. It can be straight, but in oneembodiment, the base and bridge are curved to match the curve of thehuman orbital ridge.

As used herein, the term “bottle stop” refers to an adaptation to holdthe bottle or position the bottle or stop it from falling into theuser's eye during use. In one embodiment, it is a ring or semi-circle, aclip or a V-shaped stop for holding the bottle steady in position. Inanother embodiment, it may also hold the body of the bottle to secureits position on top.

As used herein, the term “adapted to receive a finger” refers to thebase on its bottom side, shaped to have a device like a ring or asemi-circle for holding the finger in place or at least positioning afinger on the bottom side of the base.

As used herein, the term “channel” refers to a groove or indentation onthe top side of the base adapted to receive the curvature of anophthalmic bottle, in order to cradle it as an aid to keep it frommoving on the top of the base.

As used herein, the term “curved toward the bottom” refers to an arcbuilt into the base, as shown in the figures, to aide in the gripping ofthe device and ophthalmic bottle during use. The curve is about 10degrees to about 25 degrees off of horizontal.

As used herein, the term “squeeze the bottle against the base” refers topushing a finger on the bottle such that the bottle pushes against thebase, which in turn squeezes the bottle to administer one or more drops.

As used herein, the term “raised elongated portion” refers to agenerally rectangular portion projecting downward from the bottominstead of a thumb ring. In one embodiment, the raised and elongatedportion is a flat bottom such as shown in FIG. 6 .

DRAWINGS

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the presentinvention, dropper bottle holder 1. The holder device 1 consists of base2, having channel 3 on a top side of the bottle holder 1 for placementof a dropper bottle (not shown for clarity). At one end of the base 2there is an orbital ridge bridge 4 for placement of the devicevertically on the lower boney orbital ridge of a user. For extrastability, a bottle stop 5 is shown in this embodiment. The bottle stop5 is a ring, as shown, but could be a partial ring or V-shaped. The endopposite the orbital ridge bridge 4 is end 6 which is curved downwardi.e. the bottom side 7 moving down.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of device 1 wherein there is a differentkind of bottle stop 11 and a finger ring 12 on the bottom side 7 forplacement of a finger or a thumb to aide in holding the device 1 and anydropper bottle.

FIG. 3 shows a user's fingers 31 and 32 on the base 2 and bottom sides7. Dropper bottle 35 is shown positioned in bottle stop 11 to hold it inplace. Fingers 31 and 32 are positioned to squeeze dropper bottle 35 fordispensing of one or more drops from bottle at bottle dispensing tip 36.The finger 32 is positioned in finger ring 12 so that finger 31 placedon dropper bottle 35 can squeeze together from opposing sides of base 2.

FIG. 4 shows the device 1 being used with a dropper bottle 35 by user 40to instill a drop from bottle dispensing tip 36 into user's eye 41. Theorbital ridge bridge 4 is seen resting on the user's lower orbital ridge43 for aligning dispensing tip 36 directly over user's eye 41.

In use, then a user places a dropper bottle in the channel positioned atthe bottle stop with the cap off the dispensing tip. The user positionsthe bridge on the lower orbital ridge with the dispensing tip positionedover the user's eye and dispenses one or more drops by squeezing thebottle on either side, or between the base and the fingers, as shown inFIG. 3 . No adjustment is needed for the device, just positioning.

FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein thebottle stop 50 is a V-shaped stop. In this view, user 51 is placingsingle use dropper bottle 52 into V-shaped stop 50.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the device 1 having a V-shaped bottle stop 5.The bottom device 60 has flat bottom 61 with a rectangular shape for twofingers of one hand to hold between them while the device is positionedagainst the outer orbital ridge while the opposite hand squeezes thebottle. This embodiment is primarily for use with two hands.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains maymake modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principlesof the present invention without departing from its spirit orcharacteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings.Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of thepresent invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while thepresent invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and thelike apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed by the applicant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for holding a single use or multiuse eyedropper bottle for administering ophthalmic drops from a dispensing tip of the eyedropper bottle to a user's eye, the device having a top and a bottom side comprising: a) a rigid base portion; b) a bridge attached to one end of the base portion, adapted for resting the device on the orbital ridge below the user's eye such that drops can be directly instilled to the eye of the user; c) a bottle stop on the top side of the device adapted to position the eyedropper bottle such that the dispensing tip is positioned with the dispensing tip in spaced relationship and aligned beyond the edge of the bridge and above the user's eye when the device bridge is positioned on the orbital ridge below the user's eye wherein the bridge and bottle stop are designed together to instill drops directly in the eye without the bottle tip touching the eye; and d) wherein the bottom side of the device is adapted to position two or more fingers, such that upon placing the two or more fingers in the adapted position, the bottle can be squeezed between the fingers in the adapted position and another finger on the top side of the device, or two fingers on the opposite hand can squeeze the bottle to dispense the contents of the bottle.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the adaptation on the bottom side of the device is a raised, elongated portion.
 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the end opposite the bridge is curved toward the bottom side.
 4. A method of administering eye drops from an eyedropper bottle with a dispensing tip designed to instill eye drops comprising: a) selecting a device, the device having a top and a bottom side, comprising: i. a rigid base portion; ii. a bridge attached to one end of the base portion, adapted for resting the device on the orbital ridge below the user's eye such that drops can be directly instilled to the eye of the user; iii. a bottle stop on the top side of the device adapted to position the eyedropper bottle such that the dispensing tip is positioned with the dispensing tip in spaced relationship and aligned beyond the edge of the bridge and above the user's eye when the device bridge is positioned on the orbital ridge below the user's eye wherein the bridge and bottle stop are designed together to instill drops directly into the eye without the bottle tip touching the eye; and iv. wherein the bottom side of the device is adapted to position two or more fingers, such that upon placing the two or more fingers in the adapted position, the bottle can be squeezed between the fingers in the adapted position and another finger on the top side of the device, or two fingers on the opposite hand can squeeze the bottle to dispense the contents of the bottle; b) resting the bridge of the device on the orbital ridge of the user; c) the user tilting their head back; and d) squeezing the eye dropper bottle such that the drops are administered directly into the user's eye. 